Fred Payonk

Gastonia, NC – FREDERICK FRANCIS PAYONK, JR – 1949-2023

Fred Payonk , 73 passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Accordius Health in Gastonia, NC.

Born July 5, 1949, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Frederick F Payonk, Sr., and Gloria Rose Auer Payonk.

Fred graduated from Allentown Central Catholic High School in 1967 where he played basketball.  He graduated from Belmont Abbey College in 1971 with a degree in Economics where he was an avid soccer player and golfer. He spent most of his adult life as a real estate agent, retiring from Scott Wilkinson ERA in 2018.

In 2017, he reconnected with Suzanne Deaton who he dated in college and then again ten years later.  They got married in 2020 and they were a match made in heaven, it only took 40 plus years for heaven to finally collide!  Sadly, health issues plagued Fred and their time was cut way too short.

Fred is survived by his wife, Suzanne Deaton Payonk, an uncle John Payonk, two cousins Patricia Schuler (Barry) and Cynthia Frisch all of Whitehall, PA, a sister-in-law, Robin D Roberson (Watts) of River Hills, SC, a sister-in-law, Kim D McPherson (Randy) of Charlotte, NC and a brother-in-law, Joe Deaton (Melissa) of Kings Mountain, NC; and numerous cousins.

All services are private.  His entombment will be at the Bethlehem Memorial Park in Bethlehem, PA.

In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made to the National Kidney Foundation, www.kidney.org .